Cost Accounting Solved Question Paper May' 2019
Dibrugarh University B.Com 4th Sem CBCS Pattern
Time: 3 hours
Full Marks: 80
Pass marks: 24
1. (a) Choose the correct answer: 1x4=4
1) Prime cost includes
a) Direct material + Direct labour + Works expenses.
b)
Direct material + Direct labour + Chargeable expenses.
c) Direct material + Direct labour + Office expenses.
2) Purchase budget should be prepared by the
a) Financial Manager.
b) Production Manager.
c)
Purchase Manager.
3) Depreciation is a
a)
Fixed expenses.
b) Variable expenses.
c) Semi-variable expenses.
4) In process costing, the abnormal loss is treated as
a)
Period cost.
b) Unit cost.
c) Future cost.
(b) Fill in the
blanks: 1x4=4
1) Fixed cost per unit decreases
with rise in output.
2) Re-order quantity may be measured in units.
3) Fixed overhead cost is a period
cost.
4) The need of reconciliation arises in non-integrated accounting system.
2. Write short notes on
(any four): 4x4=16
a) Techniques of costing.
Ans: Techniques of Costing: The types and techniques of costing
are as follows:
1) Historical Costing: ‘The ascertainment of costs after they
have been incurred’ is called Historical costing. Such costs are, therefore,
‘postmortem’ costs as under this method all the expenses incurred on the
production are first incurred and them the costs are ascertained.
2) Standard
Costing: ‘The
preparation and use of standard costs, their comparison with actual costs and
the analysis of variance to their causes and points of incidence’ is called
standard costing.
3) Here the standards are first set and
then they are compared with actual performances. The difference between the
standard and the actual is known as the variance. The variances are analyzed to
find out their causes and also the points or locations at which they occur.
4) Marginal
Costing: Marginal
Costing involves the ascertainment of marginal costs and of the effects on
profit of changes in volumes or type of output by differentiating between fixed
costs and variable costs’. The
fixed costs are those which do not change but remain the same, with the
increase or decrease in the quantum of production. The variables costs are
those which do change proportionately with the change in quantum of production.
5) The marginal costing takes into
account only the variable costs to find out ‘marginal costs’. The difference
between Sales and Marginal costs is known as ‘Contribution’ and contribution is
an aggregate of fixed costs and Profit/Loss. So the fixed costs are deducted
from the contribution to find out the profits. Marginal costing is a technique
to ascertain the effect on profits. Marginal costing is a technique to
ascertain the effect on profit by the change in the volume of output or by the
change in the type of output.
b) ABC analysis.
Ans: ABC Analysis: ABC System: In this
technique, the items of inventory are classified according to the value of
usage. Materials are classified as A, B and C according to their value.
Items in class ‘A’ constitute the most
important class of inventories so far as the proportion in the total value of
inventory is concerned. The ‘A’ items constitute roughly about 5-10% of the
total items while its value may be about 80% of the total value of the
inventory.
Items in class ‘B’ constitute
intermediate position. These items may be about 20-25% of the total items while
the usage value may be about 15% of the total value.
Items in class ‘C’ are the most negligible
in value, about 65-75% of the total quantity but the value may be about 5% of
the total usage value of the inventory.
The numbers given above are just
indicative, actual numbers may vary from situation to situation. The principle
to be followed is that the high value items should be controlled more carefully
while items having small value though large in numbers can be controlled
periodically.
c) Rowan premium bonus plan.
Ans: Rowan System or Rowan Plan: The scheme was introduced in 1901 by
David Rowan of Glasgow, England. The wages are calculated on the basis of hours
worked whereas the ‘bonus is that proportion of the wages of time taken which
the time saved bears to the standard time allowed’. Total wages under this
scheme is calculated with the help of the following formula:
Earnings = Time
taken x Rate per hour + Time saved / Standard time (Time taken x Rate per hour)
The main
principles/features of Rowan plan are:
a) Time rate is
guaranteed and the worker gets the guaranteed irrespective of whether he
completes the job within the time also takes more time to do it.
b) Standard time and standard work are
fixed for the job or operation in advance;
c) The workers producing more than the
standard, or the workers completing the work in less than the standard time
fixed, get bonus in addition to the ordinary time wage.
d) Bonus is based on that proportion of
the time wages which the time saved bears to the standard time.
e) Workers who fail to reach the
prescribed standard get the time wages.
f)
Labour cost per unit of output decreases. The employer also shares
the benefit of efficiency which induced him to improve the method and
equipment.
g) Wages per hour increases but in the
same proportion as the output.
d) Manufacturing overheads.
Ans: Manufacturing
Overheads: Indirect
expenses incurred for manufacturing are called as manufacturing overheads. For
example, factory power, works manager’s salary, factory insurance, depreciation
of factory machinery and other fixed assets, indirect materials used in
production etc. It should be noted that such expenditure is incurred for
manufacturing but cannot be identified with the product units.
e) Abnormal process loss.
Ans:
Abnormal Loss: If the units lost
in the production process are more than the normal loss, the difference between
the two is the abnormal loss. It is excluded from total cost due to which it
does not affect the cost per unit of the product. The relevant process of
account is credited and abnormal loss account is debited with the abnormal loss
valued at full cost of finished output. The amount realized from sale of scrap
of abnormal loss units is credited to the abnormal loss account and the balance
in the abnormal loss account is transferred to the Costing Profit and Loss
Account.
Features of
Abnormal Loss:
a) It arises due to external factor.
b) It
is accidental in nature.
c) It
cannot be estimated in advance.
d) It
is insurance loss.
e) It is avoidable.
Also Read: Cost Accounting Question Papers and Solutions
Cost Accounting Question Papers | Cost Accounting Solved Papers | |
Old Course | New Course | |
3. (a) Discuss in detail
the advantages and limitations of Cost Accounting. 8+6=14
Ans: Advantages of Cost Accounting (Aid to Management)
a) Helps in Decision Making: Cost
accounting helps in decision making. It provides vital information necessary
for decision making. For instance, cost accounting helps in deciding:
1. Whether to make a product buy a
product?
2. Whether to accept or reject an export
order?
3. How to utilize the scarce materials
profitably?
b) Helps in fixing prices: Cost
accounting helps in fixing prices. It provides detailed cost data of each
product (both on the aggregate and unit basis) which enables fixation of
selling price. Cost accounting provides basis information for the preparation
of tenders, estimates and quotations.
c) Formulation of future plans: Cost
accounting is not a post-mortem examination. It is a system of foresight. On
the basis of past experience, it helps in the formulation of definite future
plans in quantitative terms. Budgets are prepared and they give direction to
the enterprise.
d) Avoidance of wastage: Cost
accounting reveals the sources of losses or inefficiencies such as spoilage, leakage,
pilferage, inadequate utilization of plant etc. By appropriate control
measures, these wastages can be avoided or minimized.
e) Highlights causes: The exact
cause of an increase or decrease in profit or loss can be found with the aid of
cost accounting. For instance, it is possible for the management to know
whether the profits have decreased due to an increase in labour cost or
material cost or both.
f)
Reward to efficiency: Cost accounting introduces bonus plans
and incentive wage systems to suit the needs of the organization. These plans
and systems reward efficient workers and improve productivity as well improve
the morale of the work -force.
g) Prevention of frauds: Cost
accounting envisages sound systems of inventory control, budgetary control and
standard costing. Scope for manipulation and fraud is minimized.
h) Improvement in
profitability: Cost accounting reveals unprofitable products and
activities. Management can drop those products and eliminate unprofitable
activities. The resources released from unprofitable products can be used to
improve the profitability of the business.
i)
Preparation of final accounts: Cost accounting provides for
perpetual inventory system. It helps in the preparation of interim profit and
loss account and balance sheet without physical stock verification.
j)
Facilitates control: Cost accounting includes effective tools
such as inventory control, budgetary control and variance analysis. By adopting
them, the management can notice the deviation from the plans. Remedial action
can be taken quickly.
Limitations of Cost Accounting
In spite of the various advantages
claimed by cost accounting, the discipline suffers from the following
limitations:
a) Cost Accounting is costly to
operate: It involves heavy expenditure to operate. The benefits derived by
operating the system are more than the cost.
b) Cost Accounting involves many forms
and statements: It involves usage of many forms and statements which leads
to increase of paper work.
c) Costing may not be applicable in all
types of Industries: Existing methods of cost accounting may not be
applicable in all types of industries. Cost accounting methods can be devised
for all types of industries, and services.
d) It is based on
Estimations: Costing system relies on predetermined data and therefore it
is not reliable. Costing system estimates costs scientifically based on past
and present situations and with suitable modifications for the future. This
leads to accurate cost figures based on which management can initiate
decisions. But for the predetermined costs, cost accounting also becomes
another ‘Historical Accounting’.
e) It is not an exact science: Like
any others accounting system, it is not an exact science but an art that has
developed through theories and practices.
f)
Bias Judgments: Many judgments are biased and depend on
individual discretion.
g) Difference in opinion: Different
views are held by different cost accounts about the items to be includes in
cost.
Or
(b) Following data are
taken from the Cost Accounts of a manufacturer in respect of the month of March
2019:
|
Particulars |
Rs. |
|
Stock in hand on 1st
March 2019: Raw materials Work-in-progress Finished goods Purchase of raw
materials Sale of finished goods Direct wages Stock in hand on 31st
March, 2019: Raw materials Work-in-progress Finished goods Non-productive wages Works expenses Office and
administrative expenses Selling and distribution
expenses |
25,000 8,220 17,360 21,900 72,310 17,150 26,250 9,100 15,750 830 8,430 3,160 4,210 |
Prepare a Statement of
Cost and Profit showing the following: 2x7=14 (AVAILABLE IN E-BOOK)
1)
Cost of materials consumed.
2)
Prime cost.
3)
Works cost.
4)
Cost of production.
5)
Cost of goods sold.
6)
Cost of sales.
7)
Profit for the month.
4. (a) A statement of
materials received and issued in March 2019 is given below:
|
March 1 March 5 March 8 March 10 March 16 March 20 March 23 March 27 March 31 |
Opening stock of
materials 4,400 units @ Rs. 8 per unit Purchased 550 units @ 10
per unit. Issued 2,200 units. Purchased 6,600 units @
12 per unit. Issued 4,400 units. Issued 1,100 units. Issued 2,200 units. Purchased 4,950 units @
11 per unit Issued 3,300 units. |
From the above statement,
prepare Stores Ledger by applying –
1)
First-in-first-out method;
2)
Last-in-first-out method; 7+7=14
Or
(b) (1) What is idle time?
What are its causes? 6
Ans: Idle time refers to
the labour time paid for but not utilized on production. It, in fact,
represents the time for which wages are paid, but during which no output is
given out by the workers. This is the period during which workers remain idle.
Reasons for idle time: According to reasons, idle time can be classified into normal idle
time and abnormal idle time. Normal idle
time is the time which cannot be avoided or reduced in the normal course of
business. The main reasons for the occurrence of normal idle time are as
follows:
1. Time taken by workers to travel the distance between the main gate
of factory and the place of their work.
2. Time lost between the finish of one job and starting of next job.
3. Time spent to overcome fatigue.
4. Time spent to meet their personal needs like taking lunch, tea etc.
The main reasons for the occurrence of abnormal idle
time are:
1. Due to machine break downs, power failure, non-availability of raw
materials, tools or waiting for jobs due to defective planning.
2. Due to conscious management policy decision to stop work for some
time.
3. In the case of seasonal goods producing units, it may not be
possible for them to produce evenly throughout the year. Such a factor too
results in the generation of abnormal idle time.
(2) A worker takes 12 hours to complete a work
on daily wages and 8 hours on a scheme of payment by results. Worker’s daily
rate is Rs. 6 per hour. The cost of material of the product is Rs. 20 and the
overheads are recovered at 200% of the total wages. Calculate the Factory Works
Cost of the product under: 4+4=8
1)
Rowan plan;
2) Halsey scheme;
5. (a) Define overhead.
How are overheads classified? Explain four reasons of over-absorption and
under-absorption of overheads. 4+5+5=14
Ans: Meaning and Definition of overheads
Aggregate of all expenses relating to indirect
material cost, indirect labour cost and indirect expenses is known as Overhead.
Accordingly, all expenses other than direct material cost, direct wages and
direct expenses are referred to as overhead.
According to Wheldon, Overhead may be defined as
"the cost of indirect material, indirect labour and such other expenses
including services as cannot conveniently be charged to a specific unit."
Blocker and WeItmer define overhead as follows:
"Overhead costs are operating cost of a business enterprise which cannot
be traced directly to a particular unit of output. Further such costs are
invisible or unaccountable."
Classification
of Overheads
Classification of overheads is the process of grouping
of costs based on the features and objectives of the business organization. Classification is made according to
following basis:
a)
Classification according to Elements: According to this
classification overhead are divided according
to their elements. The classification is done as per the following details.
1. Indirect
Materials: Materials which cannot be identified with
the given product unit of cost center is called as indirect materials. For
example, lubricants used in a machine is an indirect material, similarly thread
used to stitch clothes is also indirect material. Small nuts and bolts are also
examples of indirect materials.
2. Indirect
Labour: Wages and salaries paid to indirect workers,
i.e. workers who are not directly engaged on the production are examples of
indirect wages.
3. Indirect
Expense: Expenses
such as rent and taxes, printing and stationery, power, insurance, electricity,
marketing and selling expenses etc. are the examples of indirect expenses.
b)
Functional Classification: Overheads can also be
classified according to their functions. This classification is done as given below.
1. Manufacturing
Overheads: Indirect
expenses incurred for manufacturing are called as manufacturing overheads. For
example, factory power, works manager’s salary, factory insurance, depreciation
of factory machinery and other fixed assets, indirect materials used in
production etc. It should be noted that such expenditure is incurred for
manufacturing but cannot be identified with the product units.
2. Administrative
Overheads: Indirect
expenses incurred for running the administration are known as Administrative
Overheads. Examples of such overheads are, office salaries, printing and
stationery, office telephone, office rent, electricity used in the office,
salaries of administrative staff etc.
3. Selling
and Distribution Overheads: Overheads incurred for getting orders from consumers are called as
selling overheads. On the other hand, overheads incurred for execution of order
are called as distribution overheads. Examples of selling overheads are sales
promotion expenses, marketing expenses, salesmen’s salaries and commission,
advertising expenses etc. Examples of distribution overheads are warehouse
charges, transportation of outgoing goods, packing, commission of middlemen
etc.
4. Research
and Development Overheads: In the modern days, firms
spend heavily on research and development. Expenses incurred on research and
development are known as Research and Development overheads.
c)
Classification according to Behavior: According to this
classification, overheads are classified as fixed, variable and semi-variable.
These concepts are discussed below.
1. Fixed Overheads: Fixed
overheads are commonly described as those that do not vary in total amount with
increase or decrease in production volume, for a given period of time, may be a
year. Salaries, depreciation of fixed assets, property taxes, are some of the
examples of fixed costs. Total fixed costs remain same irrespective of changes
in volume of production but per unit of fixed cost is variable. It increases if
production decreases while if production increases, it decreases.
2. Variable Overheads: Variable
overheads are those which go on increasing if production volume increases and
go on decreasing if the volume decreases. Such increase or decrease may or may
not be in the same proportion. Variable overheads are generally considered to
be controllable as they are directly connected with the production.
3.
Semi-variable
Overheads: These types of overheads remain constant over
a relatively short range of variation in output and then are abruptly changed
to a new level. In other words, they remain same up to a certain level of
output and after crossing that level, they start increasing. For example,
supervisor’s salary is treated as fixed but if a decision is taken to operate a
second shift, additional supervisor may have to be appointed which results into
increase in the salary of the supervisor. This indicates that it is
semi-variable overheads. Similarly, maintenance expenditure, fire insurance are
also semi-variable overheads.
Reason of over or under-absorption of
overheads: The under or over-absorption of overhead arises due to following
reasons:
a) Errors in estimating overheads.
b) Overhead may change due to change in method of production.
c) The seasonal fluctuation in overhead cost in some industries.
d) Underutilization of available capacity, unexpected change in the
volume of output.
e)
Valuation of work in progress in wrong
process.
Or
(b) From the following information, work out the production hour
rate of recovery of overhead in department P1,
P2 and P3:
14
|
Particulars |
Total |
Production Departments |
Service Departments |
|||
|
|
Rs. |
P1 |
P2 |
P3 |
S1 |
S2 |
|
Rent (Rs.) Electricity (Rs.) Fire insurance (Rs.) Plant depreciation (Rs.) Transport (Rs.) Estimated working hours |
1,000 200 400 4,000 400 - |
200 50 80 1,000 50 1,000 |
400 80 160 1,500 50 2,500 |
150 30 60 1,000 50 1,800 |
150 20 60 300 100 - |
100 20 40 200 150 - |
Expenses of service departments S1
and S2 are apportioned as under:
|
|
P1 |
P2 |
P3 |
S1 |
S2 |
|
S1 |
30% |
40% |
20% |
- |
10% |
|
S2 |
10% |
20% |
50% |
20% |
- |
6. (a) (1) What is process
costing? What are its features? Name any three industries in which process
costing is used. 2+5+3=10
Ans: Process Costing
Process costing is a method of operation costing which is used to
ascertain the cost of production at each process, operation or stage of
manufacture, where processes are carried in having one or more of the following
features:
Where the product of one process becomes the material of another
process or operation
Where there is simultaneous production at one or more process of
different products, with or without by product,
Where, during one or more processes or operations of a series, the
products or materials are not distinguishable from one another, as for instance
when finished products differ finally only in shape or form’.
Process costing is defined by
Kohler as: “A method of accounting whereby costs are
charged to processes or operations and averaged over units produced; it is
employed principally where a finished product is the result of a more or less
continuous operation, as in paper mills, refineries, canneries and chemical
plants; distinguished from job costing, where costs are assigned to specific
orders, lots or units.
Features/Characteristics
of Process Costing:
a) Process Costing Method is applicable where the
output results from a continuous or repetitive operations or processes.
b) Products are identical and cannot be segregated.
c) It enables the ascertainment of cost of the product
at each process or stage of manufacture.
d) The output consists of products, which are
homogenous.
e) Production is carried on in different stages (each
of which is called a process) having a continuous flow.
f) The input will pass through two or more processes
before it takes the shape of the output. The output of each process becomes the
input for the next process until the final product is obtained, with the last
process giving the final product.
g) The output of a process except the last may also be
saleable in which case the process may generate some profit.
h) The input of a process except the first may be
capable of being acquired from the outside sources.
i) The output of a process is transferred to the next
process generally at cost to the process. It may also be transferred at market
price to enable checking efficiency of operations in
comparison to the market conditions.
j) Normal and abnormal losses may arise in the
processes.
Application of Process
Costing
There are number of industries where Process costing
system can be used except where job, Batch or Unit Operation Costing is
necessary. The following are examples of industries where process costing is
applied:
a) Where the final product merges only after two or
more process such as paper-the raw material, bamboo is made into pulp; pulp is
a made into paper and then it is finished, glazed etc. for sale;
b) The product of one process becomes the raw material
of another process or operation e.g. refined groundnut oil is the material for
making vegetable ghee and
c) Different products may have a common prior process
e.g. brass goods will require melting of brass commonly for all goods. Another
example is petroleum products by the same refinery.
Some other industries where Process Costing is applied
are:
Chemical works, Textiles, weaving, spinning, Soap
making, Food product, Box making, Canning factory, Coke works, Paint, ink and
varnishing etc.
(2) Distinguish between
normal process loss and abnormal process loss. 4
Ans: Normal
Loss: The fundamental principle of costing
is that the good units should bear the amount of normal loss. Normal loss is
anticipated and in a process it is inevitable. It is included in total cost of
the product due to which cost per unit is increases. The cost of normal loss is
therefore not worked out. The number of units of normal loss is credited to the
Process Account and if they have some scrap value or realizable value the
amount is also credited to the process account. If there is no scrap value or
realizable value, only the units are credited to the process account.
Abnormal
Loss: If the units lost in the production
process are more than the normal loss, the difference between the two is the
abnormal loss. It is excluded from total cost due to which it does not affect
the cost per unit of the product. The relevant process of account is credited
and abnormal loss account is debited with the abnormal loss valued at full cost
of finished output. The amount realized from sale of scrap of abnormal loss
units is credited to the abnormal loss account and the balance in the abnormal
loss account is transferred to the Costing Profit and Loss Account.
Difference between normal loss
and abnormal loss:
|
Bases |
Normal Loss |
Abnormal Loss |
|
1. Source |
It arises due to internal factors. |
It arises due to external factor. |
|
2. Nature |
It is recurring in nature. |
It is accidental in nature. |
|
3. Estimation |
It can be estimated in advance from
the past experience. |
It cannot be estimated in advance. |
|
4. Access to insurance |
It is not insurable loss. |
It is insurance loss. |
|
5. Avoidance |
It is unavoidable loss. |
It is avoidable. |
Or
(b) A company’s Trading and Profit & Loss Account was as
follows:
|
Particulars |
Rs. |
Particulars |
Rs. |
|
Purchases Direct wages Works expenses Selling expenses Administration expenses Depreciation Net profit |
25,210 10,500 12,130 7,100 5,340 1,100 20,300 |
Sales (50,000 units at Rs. 1.50 each) Discount received Profit on sale of land Closing stock |
75,000 260 2,340 4,080 |
|
|
81,680 |
|
81,680 |
The profit as per Cost Accounts was only Rs. 19,770. Reconcile the
financial and cost profits using the following information: 14
1) Cost accounts value of closing stock Rs. 4,280.
2) The works expenses in the Cost Accounts were taken as 100% of direct
wages.
3) Selling and administration expenses were charged in the Cost
Accounts at 10% of sales and Rs. 0.10 per unit respectively.
4) Depreciation in the Cost Accounts was Rs. 800.
(OLD COURSE)
Full Marks: 80
Pass Marks: 32
1. (a) Fill in the blanks:
1x4=4
1)
Costing is defined as ‘the technique
and process of ascertaining costs’.
2)
A Bin card provides a complete record of all materials
received and the quantity thereof.
3)
The rate of change in the
composition of labour force in an organization is termed as labour turnover.
4)
Overhead is the aggregate of
indirect material, indirect labour and indirect expenses.
(b) Choose and write the correct answer: 1x4=4
1)
Unit costing / Job costing is employed in
paper mill industries.
2)
In case of rising prices, LIFO / FIFO method of pricing
material issues reports higher income.
3)
Cost of normal idle time is
always controllable / uncontrollable.
4)
Fixed overheads per unit is reduced / increased when volume
of output is increased.
2. Write on the following
(any four): 4x4=16
a) Elements of cost.
Ans: Cost classification is the process of
grouping costs according to their common characteristics. It is the placement
of like items together according to their common characteristics. A suitable
classification of costs is of vital importance in order to identify the cost
with cost centers or cost units. Costs may be classified according to their
nature, i.e. material, labour and expenses and a number of other
characteristics. The important ways of classification are:
a) By Nature or Element or Analytical
Classification
According to this
classification, the costs are divided into three categories i.e. Materials,
Labour and Expenses. There can be further sub classification of each element;
for example, material into raw material components, and spare parts, consumable
stores, packing material etc. This classification is important as it helps to
find out the total cost, how such total cost is constituted and valuation of
work in progress.
b) By Functions
According to this
classification costs are divided as follows:
Manufacturing and Production Cost: This is the total of costs involved
in manufacture, construction and fabrication of units of production.
Commercial Cost: This is the total of costs incurred
in the operation of a business undertaking other than the cost of manufacturing
and production. Commercial cost may further be sub-divided into (a)
administrative cost and (b) selling and distribution cost.
c) As Direct and Indirect
According to this
classification, total cost is divided into direct costs and indirect costs.
Direct costs are those which are incurred for and
may be conveniently identified with a particular cost centre or cost unit.
Materials used and labour employed are common examples of direct costs.
Indirect costs are those cost which are incurred for
the benefit of number of cost centers or cost units and cannot be conveniently
identified with a particular cost centre or cost unit. Examples of indirect
cost include rent of building, management salaries, machinery depreciation etc.
Components
of Total Cost
1.
Prime Cost: Prime cost consists of costs of direct materials, direct labors and
direct expenses. It is also known as basic, first or flat cost.
2.
Factory Cost: Factory cost comprises prime cost and, in addition, works or
factory overheads that include costs of indirect materials, indirect labors and
indirect expenses incurred in a factory. It is also known as works cost,
production or manufacturing cost.
3.
Office Cost: Office cost is the sum of office and administration overheads and
factory cost. This is also termed as administration cost or the total cost of
production.
4.
Total Cost: Selling and distribution overheads are added to the total cost of
production to get total cost or the cost of sales.
b) Scope of Cost Accounting.
Ans: The
term scope here refers to field of activity. Cost accounting refers to the
process of determining the cost of a particular product or activity. It
provides useful data both for internal and external reports reporting. Internal
reporting presents details of cost data in a summarized and aggregate form. For
instance, in case a company manufacturing electrical goods cost of each
product.
In order that cost accounting
satisfies the requirements of both internal and external reporting, the
following are the different activities which are undertaken under cost
accounting system:
a) Cost
Determination: This
is the first step in the cost accounting system. It refers to determining the
cost for a specific product or activity. This is a critical activity since the
other three activities, explained below, depend on it.
b) Cost
Recording: It
is concerned with recording of costs in the cost journal and their subsequent
posting to the ledger. Cost recording may be done according to integral or
non-integral system a separate set of books is maintained for costing and
financial transactions.
c) Cost
Analyzing: It
is concerned with critical evaluation of cost information to assist the management
in planning and controlling the business activates. Meaningful cost analysis
depends largely upon the clear understanding of the cost finding methods used
in cost accounting.
d) Cost
Reporting: It
is concerned with reporting cost data both for internal and external reporting
purpose. In order to use cost information intelligently it is necessary for the
managers to have good understanding of different cost accounting concepts.
c) ABC analysis.
Ans: ABC Analysis: ABC System: In this
technique, the items of inventory are classified according to the value of
usage. Materials are classified as A, B and C according to their value.
Items in class ‘A’ constitute the most
important class of inventories so far as the proportion in the total value of
inventory is concerned. The ‘A’ items constitute roughly about 5-10% of the
total items while its value may be about 80% of the total value of the
inventory.
Items in class ‘B’ constitute
intermediate position. These items may be about 20-25% of the total items while
the usage value may be about 15% of the total value.
Items in class ‘C’ are the most
negligible in value, about 65-75% of the total quantity but the value may be
about 5% of the total usage value of the inventory.
The numbers given above are just
indicative, actual numbers may vary from situation to situation. The principle
to be followed is that the high value items should be controlled more carefully
while items having small value though large in numbers can be controlled
periodically.
d) Apportionment of overheads.
Ans: Apportionment of Overhead Expenses: Cost
apportionment is the allotment of proportions of items to cost centres or cost
units on an equitable basis. The term refers to the allotment of expenses which
cannot identify wholly with a particular department. Such expenses require
division and apportionment over two or more cost centres or units. So cost apportionment will arise in
case of expenses common to more than one cost centre or unit. It is defined as
the allotment to two or more cost centres of proportions of the common items of
cost on the estimated basis of benefit received. Common items of overheads are
rent and rates, depreciation, repairs and maintenance, lighting, works
manager’s salary etc.
e) Cost audit.
f) Cost sheet.
Ans: Cost Sheets are statements setting out
the costs of a product giving details of all the costs. Presentation of costing
information depends upon the method of costing. A cost sheet can be prepared
weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually. In a cost sheet besides total
expenditure incurred, cost per unit of output in case of each element of cost
can be shown in a separate column. The cost sheet should give cost per unit in
the previous period for the purposes of comparison.
Walter
& Bigg define, “The expenditure which has been incurred upon production for
a period is extracted from the financial books and the store records, and set
out in a memorandum or a statement. If this statement is confined to the
disclosure of the cost of the units produced during the period, it is a termed
as a cost sheet”. In other words, cost sheet is a statement showing the total
cost under proper classification in a logical order.
Components
of Total Cost
1.
Prime Cost: Prime cost consists of costs of direct materials, direct labors and
direct expenses. It is also known as basic, first or flat cost.
2.
Factory Cost: Factory cost comprises prime cost and, in addition, works or
factory overheads that include costs of indirect materials, indirect labors and
indirect expenses incurred in a factory. It is also known as works cost,
production or manufacturing cost.
3.
Office Cost: Office cost is the sum of office and administration overheads and
factory cost. This is also termed as administration cost or the total cost of
production.
4.
Total Cost: Selling and distribution overheads are added to the total cost of
production to get total cost or the cost of sales.
3. (a) Prepare a Cost
Sheet from the following: 11
|
Particulars |
Rs. |
|
Sales Materials 1.1.2018 Materials 31.12.2018 Work-in-progress
1.1.2018 Work-in-progress
31.12.2018 Finished goods 1.1.2018 Finished goods
31.12.2018 Materials purchased Direct labour Manufacturing overheads Selling expenses General office expenses |
8,00,000 40,000 32,000 55,000 72,000 64,000 1,51,000 1,52,000 1,45,000 1,08,000 50,000 40,000 |
Or
(b) Distinguish between the following: 6+5=11
1. Direct cost and Indirect cost.
Ans: Direct costs are those which are incurred for and may be conveniently
identified with a particular cost centre or cost unit. Materials used, labour
employed and direct expenses are common examples of direct costs. Total of all
direct cost is called prime cost.
Indirect costs are those cost which are incurred for the benefit of number of
cost centers or cost units and cannot be conveniently identified with a
particular cost centre or cost unit. Examples of indirect cost include rent of
building, management salaries, machinery depreciation etc. Indirect cost is also known as overheads. Overheads
is divided into three parts – factory overheads, office & administrative
overheads and selling & distribution overheads.
2. Fixed cost and Variable cost.
Ans:
Fixed cost: Fixed cost are commonly described as those
that do not vary in total amount with increase or decrease in production
volume, for a given period of time, may be a year. Salaries, depreciation of
fixed assets, property taxes, are some of the examples of fixed costs. Total
fixed costs remain same irrespective of changes in volume of production but per
unit of fixed cost is variable. It increases if production decreases while if
production increases, it decreases.
Variable
cost: Variable cost are those which go on increasing if
production volume increases and go on decreasing if the volume decreases. Such
increase or decrease may or may not be in the same proportion. Variable cost is
generally considered to be controllable as they are directly connected with the
production. Material cost, labour cost and other direct expenses are common
examples of variable cost.
4. (a) XYZ Ltd.
manufactures a product A and provides you the following particulars:
|
Cost of placing an order
Annual carrying cost per
unit Normal usage Minimum usage Maximum usage Re-order period |
Rs. 90 Rs. 5.20 50 units per week 25 units per week 75 units per week 4 to 6 weeks |
Compute from the above: 11
1)
Re-order quantity.
2)
Re-order level.
3)
Minimum level.
4)
Maximum level.
5)
Average stock level.
Or
(b) Explain the meaning
and purpose of the following documents: 4+3+4=11
1)
Purchase Requisition.
2)
Bin Card.
3)
Stores Ledger.
Ans: Purchase Requisition: A form known as
‘Purchase Requisition’ is commonly used as a format requesting the purchase
department to purchase the required material. Normally the purchase requisition
is issued by the Stores Department when the quantity of the concerned material
reaches the minimum level. Only in the cases of materials, which are not kept
in the stores on regular basis, the requisition is issued by the concerned
department. Purchase requisition has information like the quantity required,
the expected date of receipt, the department in which the material is required,
description of material etc. Copies of the purchase requisition are sent to the
Accounts department and the concerned department who is in need of the
material.
Bin Card: Bin is a
place where materials are kept in. It may be a rack, container, shelf or space
where stores are kept. Bin card is a document showing the particulars of
materials kept in the bin. It is a document attached to the bin disclosing the
quantitative details of materials received, issued and the closing balance. A
bin card is used for each item of material. Each receipt and issue is recorded
on the bin card in a chronological order and the latest balance is shown after
each receipt and issue. Bin card is maintained by the store keeper. It
indicates information like different stock levels. No, name of material,
material code number, stores ledger folio number, quantity of materials
received, issued and the balance in hand.
Store Ledger: Store
ledger is a document showing the quantity and value of materials received,
issued and in balance at the end. One stores ledger is allotted to each
component of material. Entries are made in this ledger by the costing clerk
with reference to goods received note, material requisition note, material
returned note etc. It is very similar to the bin card except it contains
additional columns showing the prices and value of materials received, issued
and balance in hand. It gives the value of closing stock at any time. Besides,
a store ledger contains information like name of the material, code number,
different stock levels etc.
5. (a) From the following
particulars, you are required to work out the earning of worker for a week
under –
1)
Straight piece rate;
2)
Halsey premium scheme (50% sharing);
3)
Rowan premium scheme. 3+4+4=11
|
Weekly
working hours Hourly wage
rate Piece rate
per unit Normal time
taken per unit Normal
output per week Actual
output per week |
48 Rs.
7.50 Rs.
3.00 24
minutes 120
units 150
units |
Or
(b) What is idle time?
Explain its causes. How is idle time treated in Cost Accounts? 3+4+4=11
Ans: Idle time refers to the labour time paid for but not utilized on production.
It, in fact, represents the time for which wages are paid, but during which no
output is given out by the workers. This is the period during which workers
remain idle.
Types
of Idle Time:
a. Normal idle time is inherent in any job situation and thus it cannot be eliminated
or reduced. For example: time gap between the finishing of one job and the
starting of another; time lost due to fatigue etc. The cost of normal idle time
should be charged to the cost of production. This may be done by inflating the
labour rate. It may be transferred to factory overheads for absorption, by
adopting a factory overhead absorption rate.
b. Abnormal idle time is defined as the idle time which arises on account of abnormal
causes; e.g. strikes; lockouts; floods; major breakdown of machinery; fire etc.
Such an idle time is uncontrollable. The cost of abnormal idle time due to any
reason should be charged to Costing Profit & Loss Account.
Reasons for idle time: According to reasons, idle time can be classified into normal idle
time and abnormal idle time. Normal idle
time is the time which cannot be avoided or reduced in the normal course of
business.
1. The main reasons for the occurrence of normal idle time are as
follows:
2. Time taken by workers to travel the distance between the main gate
of factory and the place of their work.
3. Time lost between the finish of one job and starting of next job.
4. Time spent to overcome fatigue.
5. Time spent to meet their personal needs like taking lunch, tea etc.
The main reasons for the occurrence of
abnormal idle time are:
4. Due to machine break downs, power failure, non-availability of raw
materials, tools or waiting for jobs due to defective planning.
5. Due to conscious management policy decision to stop work for some
time.
6. In the case of seasonal goods producing units, it may not be
possible for them to produce evenly throughout the year. Such a factor too
results in the generation of abnormal idle time.
Control
of Idle Time
Following steps are suggested to control
idle time:
i) Vigilance must be exercised to control
and eliminate idle time.
ii) The instructions to the workers should
be given in advance so that workers need not wait.
iii) Plant and machine should be maintained
properly so that their breakdown can be avoided
iv) The causes of the idle time should be
found out and the root cause must be removed.
v) Regular and timely supply of raw
materials must be made available through a good system of storing materials.
6. (a) Compute the machine
hour rate from the following data: 12
|
Particulars |
Rs. |
|
Cost of machine Installation charges Scrap value after 10
years Rent of the ship per
month General lighting for the
ship per month Insurance for the
machine p.a. Repairs p.a. Power consumption 10
units per hour and average rate of power per unit Shop supervisor’s salary
p.m. Estimated working hours
p.a. |
10,00,000 1,00,000 50,000 10,000 2,000 9,000 10,000 4 15,000 2,500 |
The machine occupies
one-fourth of total area of the shop. Supervisor denotes one-third of his time
for the machine.
Or
(b) What are the causes of
under-absorption and over-absorption of overheads? How will you deal with them
in Cost Accounts? 7+5=12
Ans: Over or under absorption
of overheads meaning:
Overhead expenses
are usually applied to production on the basis of predetermined rates. The
pre-determined rate may present estimated or actual cost. The actual overhead
cost incurred and overhead applied to the production will seldom be the same.
But due to certain reasons the difference between two may arise.
Over absorptions: If the amount applied
exceeds, the actual overhead, it is said to be an over absorption of overheads.
Under absorption: If the amount applied is
short fall of the actual overhead in production it is said to be the under
absorption of overheads. The over or under absorption of overheads may be
termed as overhead variance.
Reason of over or under-absorption of
overheads: The under or over-absorption of overhead arises due to following
reasons:
f)
Errors in estimating overheads.
g) Overhead may change due to change in method of production.
h) The seasonal fluctuation in overhead cost in some industries.
i)
Underutilization of available
capacity, unexpected change in the volume of output.
j)
Valuation of work in progress in wrong
process.
Treatment of under and over absorption
of overheads
Once the
under/over absorption is noticed, the following corrective steps are to be
taken to rectify the same.
a) Use of supplementary Rate: The
under/over absorption can be rectified by using the supplementary rate. This
rate is calculated by dividing the under/over absorbed amount of overheads by
the units of the base. The rate so arrived is known to be supplementary rate.
b) Carrying forward to future period: If
the amount of under/over absorption of overheads is small, it may be carried
forward to the future period hoping that it will be rectified in the future.
c) Writing off to Profit and Loss A/c:
Amount of under/over absorption can be written off to Costing Profit and Loss
Account and thus not reflected in the total costs.
7. (a) A product of XYZ
Ltd. Co. possesses through two processes A and B. 10,000 units at a cost of Rs.
1.10 were issued to process A. Other direct expenses were as follows:
|
Particulars |
Process – A |
Process – B |
|
Sundry materials Direct labour Direct expenses Output (units) |
Rs. 2,000 Rs. 4,500 Rs. 1,500 9,000 |
Rs. 2,000 Rs. 8,000 Rs. 1,500 9,120 |
Wastage of process A was
5% and in process B 4%. Wastage of process A was sold at 0.25 per unit and that
of process B at 0.50 per unit. Overhead charges were 160% of direct labour.
Prepare Process – A A/c and Process – B A/c. 11
Or
(b) (1) Explain the special
features of contract costing. 5
Ans: The distinguishing features of contract are as follows:
Features regarding Production
i) The work is undertaken to customer’s specific
requirements.
ii) The work will be of a relatively long duration and
involves large amount.
iii) The work is usually site based.
iv) The work is frequently of a constructional nature.
v) Plant and equipment may be purchased or hired for
the duration of the contract.
vi) The completion date is fixed in advance, and
penalties follow delays
vii) Certain aspects of the work are assigned to
sub-contractors.
Features regarding Cost
i) The cost unit in contract costing is a contract.
ii) A separate account is prepared for each contract to
ascertain the profit or loss on each contract.
iii) Most of the items of cost can be classified as
direct since they can be easily identified with a specific contract.
iv) Indirect costs are normally restricted to Head
Office expenses and storage costs. These are allocated to various contracts on
which work is carried out during the year.
v) The contract price is often fixed in advance and
payment is received at various stages of completion based on architect’s
certificate.
vi) A separate contract ledger is maintained for
recording costs when the number of contracts is large.
(2) How
does cost audit differ from financial audit? 6